Drop board structure for hen houses



y 1951 T. J. DOBSON 2,553,640

DROP BOARD STRUCTURE FOR HEN HOUSES Filed Oct. 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I m'eutm' 6 Thames J .DDhsm-L A m rneys May 22, 1951 T. J. DOBSON DROP BOARD STRUCTURE FOR HEN HOUSES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11, 1946 Thomas .JLD obs an.

Attorneys Patented May 22, 1951 UNITE-D STATES PATENT t Thomas .I. Dnbsnn, Burkhurnettflfex.

' Application-October 11, 1946,- Serial No. 702,685

1Claim. I This-invention relates to: hen". houses.. and; as aymatter'of fact for any kind of; fowl ghousing and:more-particularlyto a structure for always maintainingthe house substantially sanitary-and vermin proof.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a drop board assembly for hen houses constructed to mitigate the collection of droppings and to exclude vermin which usually visit unclean hen houses where droppings are allowed to remain without frequent removal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hen house drop board assembly which serves to permit the droppings to displace to an external location where they can be easily removed by shovel or other implement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a structure of the character described, which can be factory prefabricated and thus sold to be assembled by purchasers.

These and various other objects and advan tages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the assembly.

Figure 2 is a cross-section taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective and sectional view, showing the studs and one of the dividers.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the dividers.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the dropping board sections.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the wedge-shaped spacers.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 5 denotes a rectangular shaped base of concrete, stone, brick or any other suitable material upon which a horizontal frame 6, made up of front and rear members a, connected by end members b, c.

The inner side of the structure has vertically disposed corner posts 1 rising from the corners of the frame 6, while rising from the rear elongated member 21 of the frame 6 rises a plurality of vertical studdings 8, these studdings 8 having beveled spacers 9 interposed between the same and horizontally to support the lower ends of drop board sections H], II, l2 and I3 whose side edges are co-tangent, as shown at l3a, these sections being formed with notches [4 for receiving the vertical studding members 8, as in the manner shown in Figure 5. It is preferable four; feetrawide, this making up an assembly approximately tenzfeet. long. The sections can be easily inserted and removed whenever desired. As a matter of fact, the entire assembly may be prefabricated in sections in readily connectible portions and thus sold to users to be assembled themselves.

A sheet material I5 is applied across the inner sides of the studding members 8 to form an inside wall, and an outside covering I6 is provided for the studding members 8, the thus formed wall I8 being provided with a depending outstanding apron portion H, which is held in that position, as shown in Figure 2, by wedgeshaped spacers I8, interposed between the apron l1 and corresponding studding members 8 to form a chute through which droppings may pass down the board sections H], II, l2 and I3 and out between the studding members 8 to drop down inside of the apron IT, to a trough or area where the same can be easily removed.

A horizontal beam 20 having its upper portion beveled serves to support the upper ends of the board sections H], H, [2 and 13.

To prevent the accumulation of droppings and other-foreign matter against the inner sides of the studding members 8, a divider, such as is generally referred to by numeral M, is provided for each member 8.

The dividers 2| consist of tapering hood-like members 22, having inclined side portions merging at a ridge 23, the broad end of the hoodlike structure 22 being provided with a pair of parallel legs 24, 24 for straddling the corresponding studding member 8, the point end of the hood-like divider projecting upwardly of the corresponding dropping board section, as suggested in Figure 3, thus droppings that move down the board will be divided at the studding members so that they can pass outwardly of the structure without accumulating behind the members 8.

Horizontal beams 25 and 26 ridge the studding members 8 and the corner posts 1 and these support a roof 21 which is suitably secured to these beams. At a suitable distance under the roof 21 is a roost 28, located above the dropping board sections In, H, I2 and I3 so that droppings from the fowls will fall onto the board sections.

Obviously, the boards can be readily removed for the purpose of washing or replacement whenever the occasion demands.

However, it may be desirable to secure the dropping board sections in place permanently.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the claimed as new is:

A drop board assembly for hen houses comprising an enclosure having a roost therein, an inclined drop board underlying the roost, said enclosure having a wall structure provided with a, horizontal opening therein and through which droppings from the board can pass, said Wall structure consisting of a plurality of vertically disposed and horizontally spaced studding members and an apron depending from the studding members at a point above the lower end of the drop board and flaring outwardly, wedge-shaped spacer members interposed between and interinvention, what is connecting the studding members and the apron to define a down chute for droppings falling from the drop board, said dropping board being divided into cotangent sections each having notches at their lower ends for engaging said studs, and dropping dividers, lying on the board and each having a pair of integrally formed arms embracing a studding member at the sides thereof.

' THOMAS J. DOBSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 391,858 Randleman Oct. 30, 1888 595,121 Dimock Dec. '7, 1897 934,075 Kaneaster Sept. 14, 1909 1,314,075 Gilmore Aug. 26, 1919 1,564,324 Christopher Dec. 8, 1925 1,844,610 Smidley Feb. 9, 1932 1,858,710 Kelley May 17, 1932 1,927,881 Wetmore Sept. 26, 1933 

